[WSF-Discuss] Activists gather for European Social Forum

[CACIM]

*Activists gather for European Social Forum *

*Posted :* Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:14:58 GMT

*Author :* DPA



@
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/232417,activists-gather-for-european-social-forum.html



Stockholm - Globalization, labour, women's rights and curtailing corporate
power were among issues being discussed at a meeting of civil society groups
that opens Wednesday in the southern Swedish city of Malmo. Organizers
anticipated some 20,000 would take part in the gathering organized by the
European Social Forum under the slogan "Making another Europe possible! East
and West together."



"Economic alternatives to neoliberalism," blocking foreign military bases as
well as how to tackle global food price hikes and climate change will be
covered at the five-day conference, along with cultural activities,
including films, concerts and poetry readings.



"The forum is a natural part of building alliances over national borders and
organizational divides," said Niklas Olin of the Swedish branch of Attac,
one of the participating groups.

Attac, formed 1998, is the acronym for the Association for the Taxation of
Financial Transactions for the Aid of Citizens.



Speakers at the opening ceremony Wednesday evening include former Swedish
archbishop KG Hammar and Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva.



The European Social Forum is a spinoff of the World Social Forum set up in
2001 as an alternative to the World Economic Forum that is hosted annually
in Davos, Switzerland.



Police have met organizers to ensure demonstrations planned during the event
do not spin out of control. Liaison officers from Denmark, Germany and
Norway were also reported to be in Malmo to assist the Swedish police.



At the 2007 European Social Forum in Athens, scores of anarchist youths
clashed with riot police.


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